Patent Application
20120255288
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger plate for an evaporator and an evaporator with a plurality of heat exchanger plates which are stacked above one another, especially for a drive train of a motor vehicle, rail vehicle or a ship for example, comprising an internal combustion engine and a steam motor, with the heat of a hot medium such as a hot exhaust air flow, hot charge air, coolant, cooling agent or an oil of the internal combustion engine or a further unit provided in the drive train such as a vehicle air-conditioning system being used in the evaporator for generating the steam for the steam motor. The present invention is not limited to the application in a mobile drive train, but stationary drive trains such as in industrial applications or block-type thermal power stations can also be arranged accordingly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heat exchanger plates or evaporators for utilizing the waste heat in a drive train, especially a drive train for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, to which the present invention relates according to one embodiment, have long been known. The heat contained in an exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine is used for evaporating and/or superheating a working medium, and the vaporous working medium is then expanded in an expansion machine, i.e. a piston engine, turbine or screw machine, under release of mechanical power and is thereafter supplied to the evaporator again. The working medium is condensed after the expansion machine and then supplied to the evaporator again.
The utilization of the exhaust gas heat of the recirculated exhaust gas flow of modern diesel engines is especially advantageous, but also of petrol engines because in this case the offered heat is available at a high temperature level. At the same time, the cooling system of the vehicle is relieved because the heat flow of the recirculated exhaust gas is decoupled from the cooling system and is used in the evaporation circuit process for generating useful power. It is simultaneously or alternatively advantageous to use the residual exhaust gas flow for preheating, evaporation and/or superheating a working medium, which until now flowed out of the rear muffler to the ambient environment in an unused manner.
A further heat source which can be used at least for preheating, partial evaporation or even complete evaporation of the working medium in such a drive train is the heat contained in the coolant of a cooling circuit of the motor vehicle or the internal combustion engine. Further heat sources are obtained by exhaust gas recirculation and charge air cooling of vehicle engines and intermediate cooling in multi-step charging of the internal combustion engine. A separate burner unit can also be provided additionally or alternatively, or the heat of other heat sources in the drive train, especially the vehicle drive train, can be used such as engine oil, gear oil or hydraulic oil and electronic components, electric motors, generators or batteries that are provided there.
The mechanical power generated in the expansion machine from waste heat can be utilized in the drive train, either for driving auxiliary units or an electric generator. It is also possible to use the drive power directly for driving the motor vehicle, which means for traction, in order to thereby provide the internal combustion engine with a more compact size, to reduce fuel consumption or provide more drive power.
Various requirements are placed on the heat exchanger plates or the evaporators in the mentioned fields of application. On the one hand, they should offer high efficiency and work reliably. On the other hand, they should be produced at low cost and have a low overall volume and a low weight. Finally, the problem arises during use in the exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine that the volume flow of the exhaust gas will vary extremely during operation of the internal combustion engine and is further subject to temperature fluctuations. The exchanger plate or evaporator must be capable of securely managing such fluctuations in volume flow and temperature and securely ensuring the desired evaporation of the working medium in any possible state.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,975 A describes a plate heat exchanger, in which relatively large channels are provided which extend in the direction of the transverse axis for transverse distribution of the flow. Meandering channels which are switched in parallel and are tightly separated from one another are provided in the direction of flow before the comparatively large channels which extend in the direction of the transverse axis.
Further plate heat exchangers and methods for their production are disclosed in the publications DE 10 2006 013 503 A1, DE 30 28 304 A1.
Document EP 1 956 330 A2 describes a heat exchanger with a transverse flow distribution device for the fluid to be evaporated, in which the fluid to be evaporated flows laterally into the transverse flow distribution device in the direction of the transverse axis and is then redirected in the direction of the longitudinal axis in individual channels connected with one another via boreholes.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,191 A describes the lateral introduction of a fluid into a plate heat exchanger, in which the fluid flows at the top over a perforated rib in the direction of the transverse axis, whereas the steam is able to flow over the entire width of the rib through the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,595 describes the distribution of steam flowing from below into the heat exchanger via a strip with a plurality of nozzles. This injection via nozzles prevents that the fluid flowing from the top to the bottom is able to flow over the strip and will reach the flow distribution area for the steam.
The present invention is based on the object of providing a heat exchanger plate or an evaporator with a plurality of such heat exchanger plates which fulfills the mentioned requirements optimally.
The object in accordance with the invention is achieved by a heat exchanger plate for an evaporator
The heat exchanger plate in accordance with the invention for an evaporator has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, with the transverse axis being disposed perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, at least one flow channel is provided for the medium (working medium) to be evaporated, which flow channel extends substantially predominantly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger plate through a heat supply region of the heat exchanger plate and conducts the medium to be evaporated. Several such flow channels are provided in an especially advantageous manner to extend at least predominantly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger plate, through which the medium to be evaporated flows simultaneously under absorption of heat. Extending at least predominantly in the direction of the longitudinal axis shall mean that not only straight flow channels which extend precisely in the direction of the longitudinal axis can be provided, but also flow channels which in their progression have a certain section of flow conduction in the direction of the transverse axis or obliquely in relation thereto, e.g. by short webs or the like. However, the main direction of flow exists in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the through-flow pressure loss in the longitudinal direction is considerably lower than in the transverse direction insofar as flow channels are provided adjacent to one another—as will be explained below—which enable an exchange of medium to be evaporated among each other, with such exchange then usually occurring in the direction of the transverse axis or obliquely in relation thereto. Reference is made below only to the flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis for the sake of simplicity without confirming each time again that certain deviations in direction are permissible.
At least one inlet and one outlet are provided for the medium to be evaporated, which are in a flow-conducting connection with the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger plate. Usually, the medium to be evaporated will flow through the inlet in a fully liquid state and leave the heat exchanger plate in a partly or fully evaporated state.
A transverse flow distribution device is provided in accordance with the invention in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the inlet and the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and/or between the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the outlet, which transverse distribution device compensates pressure losses in the flow of the medium to be evaporated which are caused by the length of the flow path between the inlet and the various positions of the inlet in the at least one flow channel or—in the case of several flow channels extending adjacent to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis—between the inlet and the entrances of the various flow channels. As already explained above, the transverse flow distribution device can either be provided in the region between the inlet and the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis in which the pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path are provided when the medium to be evaporated passes through this region in different ways. It is achieved by the compensation of the various pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path that the medium to be evaporated will be distributed evenly among all flow channels extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis or the entire cross-section of a flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, irrespective of the respective actual position of the inflow into the flow channel relative to the position of the inlet or—if a separate inflow channel is provided between the inlet and the transverse flow distribution device—irrespective of the position of the outlet from the inflow channel relative to the entrance into the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, this even distribution of flow in the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis or all flow channels extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis can also be achieved by a respective pressure buildup from behind by a transverse flow distribution device, which is arranged in the direction of flow or in the direction of the longitudinal axis behind the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and therefore between said flow channel and the outlet. It is further possible to provide a transverse flow distribution device before and after the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which may also cooperate concerning the pressure buildup from behind.
A transverse flow distribution device which is provided in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the outlet can also be used for compensating pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path between the outflow of the medium to be evaporated or the at least partly evaporated medium from the at least one flow channel and the outlet.
The transverse flow distribution device can be arranged in such a way that a complete compensation of the pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path will occur. The transverse flow distribution device is especially arranged in such a way that every fluid particle has the same temperature and/or the same speed when entering the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. If the heat input into the medium to be evaporated is not constant over the area of the heat exchanger plate, then this can also lead to distinct imbalances in the pressure loss compensation by means of the transverse flow distribution device. This can also lead to dissymmetries in the transverse flow distribution device, especially when it is arranged—as will be described below in closer detail—with a plurality of flow-conducting plates.
The individual flow channels which are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis are delimited from one another in an especially advantageous manner by plates extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an inflow channel, which can also be meandering, is provided between the inlet and the at least one flow channel extending in the longitudinal direction. The inflow channel can also be subdivided into individual partial channels by plates which in the embodiment as a meandering channel extend in the direction of the transverse axis. In accordance with a second embodiment, the plates are provided with openings so that a transverse flow of medium to be evaporated can occur between the individual flow channels. It is ensured in the first case that any vapor bubble that is forming is unable to expand to adjacent flow channels. According to the second embodiment, it can be achieved at best depending on the available flow cross-section of every single flow channel and the maximum volume flow of medium to be conducted that there will not be any complete blockage of an individual flow channel by a vapor bubble.
Such an inflow channel usually terminates with an outlet cross-section which covers only a part of the width of the exchanger plate, as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
When the medium to be evaporated flows out of the inflow channel, it should be distributed as evenly as possible for optimal evaporation over the entire flow cross-section of the flow channel arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger plate or over all adjacently arranged flow channels extending in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger plate. This can be achieved according to the invention in such a way that a transverse flow distribution device is provided between the meandering inflow channel and the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which transverse flow distribution device compensates pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path between the outlet from the inflow channel and the various positions of the inlet into the at least one flow channel or the various inlets of the various flow channels. The transverse flow distribution device increases the flow resistance on the comparatively short distances between the outlet of the medium to be evaporated from the inflow channel and the entrance into the at least one flow channel arranged in the longitudinal direction in comparison with the comparatively longer distances between said outlet and entrance points positioned further away. Such a transverse flow distribution device can also be provided which sets the flow resistance on the individual paths to be covered by the medium to be evaporated from the outlet and the individual entrance points in such a way that uneven heat supply via the heat exchange of plates is compensated.
The plates can be arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger plate. It is also possible to provide dissymmetries, especially in order to compensate differences in the heat input into the medium to be evaporated, as already explained above. This can lead to the consequence that the compensation of the pressure loss caused by the length of the flow path is incomplete, but that there is a purposeful relatively lower or higher pressure loss compensation on specific flow paths.
In accordance with a first embodiment, the pressure loss compensation caused by the length of the flow path can be achieved by plates provided in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the meandering inflow channel and the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which plates extend in the direction of the transverse axis and conduct the medium to be evaporated from the inflow channel in the direction towards the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The plates comprise openings which provide a comparatively small overall flow cross-section for the medium to be evaporated in the direction of the longitudinal axis and therefore produce a comparatively higher flow resistance in the direction of the longitudinal axis than in the direction of the transverse axis. The number of the plates arranged successively in the direction of the longitudinal axis is arranged in a varying manner over the width of the heat exchanger plate, which means in the direction of the transverse axis, with the comparatively largest number of plates being arranged behind one another on the width section in which the entrance of the medium to be evaporated is provided into the successively arranged plates, and the number decreases with increasing distance from the entrance in the direction of the transverse axis.
An alternative or additional measure for compensating pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path provides a throttling point in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the meandering inflow channel and the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which throttling point is provided over the entire width of the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and causes the backing up of the medium to be evaporated over the entire width of the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Said backing up is so strong that the pressure loss via the throttling point—before the medium to be evaporated enters into the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis—far exceeds the various pressure losses caused by the length of the flow path before the throttling point.
The throttling point can be arranged for example by one or a plurality of webs which extend in the direction of the transverse axis or with an angle of less than 90° in relation to the transverse axis and which comprise or delimit at least one throttling opening. The web or the plurality of webs can delimit the throttling opening for example together with a base plate of the heat exchanger plate which forms the bottom or top of the inflow channel and the at least one flow channel arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis. It is understood that the transverse flow distribution device can also be arranged differently, e.g. by adapting the individual flow channels which are especially arranged in the plates between the outlet of the medium to be evaporated from the inflow channel and the inlet or the various positions of the inlet into the at least one flow channel arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis. As a result, individual flow channel contours can be provided with a smaller cross-section and others with a larger cross-section, or a flow channel will be deflected more often than the other one.
A respective transverse flow distribution device can also be provided on the outlet side of the at least one flow channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger plate, relating to the flow of the medium to be evaporated, which transverse distribution device compensates pressure losses induced by the length of the flow path between the outlet from the at least one flow channel and an outlet of the heat exchanger plate for the partly or completely evaporated medium. This transverse flow distribution device can especially be formed by plates and/or a web, as described above.
The present invention is not limited to embodiments with an inflow channel having a specific extension, especially a meandering one. Instead, the aforementioned configuration of the transverse flow distribution device with plates extending in the direction of the transverse axis or the throttling point, especially with a web, can also be provided in heat exchanger plates without such an inflow channel. It is only relevant that a transverse flow distribution device is provided in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the inlet and the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis or the plurality of flow channels extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis in order to ensure that the entire flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis or all flow channels extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis are supplied evenly with medium to be evaporated. Furthermore, embodiments of the transverse flow distribution device which are provided with a different configuration can be provided before or behind the at least one flow channel extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis as long as the pressure losses which are caused by the length of the flow path are compensated in the flow of the medium to be evaporated.
The inflow channel which extends in a meandering manner in accordance with one embodiment is formed in an especially advantageous way by a plurality of webs located on the heat exchanger plate or the aforementioned base plate, which webs extend in the direction of the transverse axis and are arranged one after the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis starting in an alternating manner on one each of the two opposite sides of the heat exchanger plate and extend up to a predetermined distance from the respective other side. When seen in the direction of the flow of the medium to be evaporated through the at least one flow channel arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the first web starts on the left side and extends in the direction of the transverse axis up to close to the right side of the heat exchanger plate. The second web then starts in the direction of the longitudinal axis at a distance behind the first web on the right side and extends in the direction of the transverse axis up to close to the left side. The third web would then start on the left side again and so on. The advantageous meandering form is achieved thereby. The rearmost web in the direction of the longitudinal axis can then terminate either in the area of one of the two sides of the heat exchanger plate. If deviating from the above the medium to be evaporated shall not exit at one side of the heat exchanger plate from the inflow channel, two laterally opposing partial webs are provided as the last web which expose an opening in the central region or even outside of the center.
An evaporator in accordance with the invention for evaporating a fluid medium with a plurality of heat exchanger plates of the kind described herein which are stacked one above the other comprises at least one fluid inlet which is in flow-conducting connection with the inlets on the heat exchanger plates, a vapor outlet which is in flow-conducting connection with the flow channels on the heat exchanger plates which are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the vapor outlet occurs via the aforementioned outlets of the heat exchanger plate, and a channel conducting a heat carrier and/or any other heat source which supplies heat to the heat exchanger plates for evaporating the medium conducted through the inflow channels and the flow channels arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
The guidance of the medium to be evaporated especially by means of the inflow channels and by means of the transverse flow distribution devices which are arranged in the direction of flow before the flow channels extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the flow channels arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis occurs advantageously with the supply of heat in such a way that the medium to be evaporated is present in these transverse flow distribution devices and especially in the inflow channels in an exclusively or nearly fluid state and in an at least partly vaporous state in the flow channels arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger plates.
A drive train of a motor vehicle arranged in accordance with the invention with an internal combustion engine and a steam motor, wherein the invention can also be used in a drive train outside of a motor vehicle, comprises an evaporator arranged in accordance with the invention which is arranged in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine. The heat from the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine is transferred by means of the heat exchanger plates to the vapor of the vapor circuit of the steam motor, so that the evaporator also needs to be arranged in the vapor circuit.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
A plurality of flow channels 4 extend over the axially largest area of the heat exchanger plate 1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2, which conduct the medium to be evaporated. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual flow channels 4 are separated from one another by the plates 8. As is also shown, the flow channels 4 further extend over the entire width of the heat exchanger plate 1, as seen in the direction of view towards the longitudinal axis 2 and in the direction of flow of the medium to be evaporated in the flow channels 4. Webs 18 are further only provided on the two lateral edges, which—as will be shown especially in FIG. 3—form the sidewalls of the flow-conducting region of the heat exchanger plate 1 and prevent that the medium to be evaporated will escape laterally from the heat exchanger plate 1.
An inlet 6 for the medium to be evaporated is provided on the first axial end. In the present case, the inlet 6 comprises at first a distributor borehole which extends through all stacked heat exchanger plates 1 (of which only one is shown in
The inflow channel 7 extends from the first axial or face end of the heat exchanger plate 1 in the direction of the flow channels 4 arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2. The inflow channel 7 is arranged in a meandering fashion in accordance with the invention; see the webs 14 extending in the direction of the transverse axis 3 which are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 in an alternating fashion starting on one of the two opposite sides of the heat exchanger plate 1 and are arranged one behind the other extending to a predetermined distance in relation to the respective other side, so that the medium to be evaporated is respectively guided along every single entire web 14 in the direction of the transverse axis 3 until it flows through the distance at the lateral end of the web 14 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 to the next web 14. The webs 14 accordingly form a single meandering inflow channel 7, so that the entire medium to be evaporated which enters the heat exchanger plate 1 through the inlet 6 needs to flow through said single inflow channel 7 before it is distributed, as will be explained below in closer detail, among the different flow channels 4 which extend next to one another and are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2.
The flow channel of the inflow channel 7 is subdivided into individual partial channels by a plurality of plates 9 which extend in the direction of the transverse axis 3, as is illustrated in the drawings. The individual partial channels can be sealed against one another by the plates 9, with breakthroughs or recesses being provided in the region of the deflections which allow the desired meandering through-flow of the inflow channel 7. It is alternatively possible that the plates 9 comprise openings over the entire longitudinal extensions which connect the individual partial channels in a flow-conducting manner with each other. The same also applies to plates 8 which separate the flow channels 4 from one another which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2.
The medium to be evaporated which exits through the space between the last plate 14 and the outside of the heat exchanger plate 1 out of the inflow channel 7 flows into an axial region between the inflow channel 7 and the channels 4 of the heat exchanger plate 1 which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2, which heat exchanger plate is provided with a transverse flow distribution device for the purpose of optimal transverse distribution of the flow. In
Since the plates 10 are provided with openings, with such plates also being designated as intersected plates, the flow resistance for the medium to be evaporated which flows along the plates 10, which means in the direction of the transverse axis 3, is lower for a medium which flows in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 through the openings in the plates 10. However, such a flow for the medium to be evaporated is therefore enabled through the openings in the plates 10 and therefore along a comparatively short distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2. Since the medium to be evaporated needs to flow through more plates 10 the shorter the path, the flow resistance on this short path is respectively higher per unit of distance. It can be achieved thereby that the flow resistance on the comparatively shortest path substantially corresponds to the flow resistance on the comparatively longest path and simultaneously to the flow resistance on all parts which are in between with respect to their length. For example, the flow resistance for the medium to be evaporated which flows out of the inflow channel 7 and straight in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 into the flow channels 4 is as large as the one for the medium which flows out of the inflow channel 7 at first in the direction of the transverse axis 3 to the other side of the heat exchanger plate 1 and thereafter in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 straight into the flow channels 4. As a result of this special arrangement of the plates 10, an even distribution of the medium to be evaporated which flows out of the inflow channel 7 can be achieved on all flow channels 4 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2.
At the other axial end of the heat exchanger plate 1 or the flow channels 4 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2, a respective second transverse flow distribution device is provided according to
The principle according to which the second transverse flow distribution device works corresponds precisely to the one of the first transverse flow distribution device in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 between the inflow channel 7 and the flow channels 4. In this case too, the plates 13 form a flow path for the medium to be evaporated in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 with a relatively higher flow resistance in comparison with the flow path extending through the plates 13 in the direction of the transverse axis 3. A comparatively higher number of plates 13 is provided in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 in the width section in which the outlet 12 is provided or connected to the plates 13 (in the present case this is the uppermost width section shown in
Within the terms of production providing a low amount of rejects, the plates 10 and the plates 13 can be produced at first as a common field of plates and thereafter be separated from one another. This especially occurs by an oblique cut, so that the angle—relating to the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 in the direction of flow—corresponds at the rear end of the field with the plates 10 to the angle at the beginning of the field with the plates 13. In order to then achieve the desired varying number of plates 10, 13 over the width of the heat exchanger plate 1 with respect to the outlet of the inflow channel 7 or the inflow into the outlet 12, the outlet 12 is arranged on the opposite side like the outlet from the inflow channel 7.
The heat carrier, which can especially be present in fluid or gaseous form, especially the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, flows on the rear side of the illustrated heat exchanger plate 1 or through a further heat exchanger plate provided on the rear side of the illustrated heat exchanger plate 1, which further heat exchanger plate can be adjusted to the type of the heat carrier depending on its configuration. The heat carrier advantageously flows in a counter-current to the medium to be evaporated, which means in the illustration as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, no passage or pass-through is necessary for the heat carrier in the heat exchanger plate 1 as shown in
Deviating from the indicated illustration, it is obviously also possible to choose the conduction of the fluids which are in heat-exchanging connection in such a way that a co-current heat exchanger or a counter-current heat exchanger or random mixed forms are formed.
With reference to
Instead of the embodiment as shown in
It is understood that the throttling point 11 could also extend at an angle which is smaller than 90° in relation to the transverse axis 3 and can therefore be similarly positioned in an oblique manner as the axial end of the field with the plates 10 according to
In the illustrated embodiment, plates 10 which also extend in the direction of the transverse axis are provided before the throttling point 11, but in this case with the same number of plates 10 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 over the entire width of the heat exchanger plate 1. In this case too, plates could also be provided here too as in
Plates 13 are also provided in the direction of flow behind the flow channels 4, which plates extend in the direction of the transverse axis 3. The number of plates 13 arranged behind one another is also constant in this case over the entire width of the heat exchanger plate 1. An embodiment as shown in
Although
In an especially advantageous manner, the structural plate with the webs 14 and 18 and the base plate 20 and the cover plate 21 can be soldered together or joined together by other material joining measures. For example, solder foils can be placed between the structural plate and the base plate 20 or the cover plate 21, or the required solder is made available by other known methods at the respective points. It is understood that non-material mounting of the aforementioned plates is also possible.
The medium to be evaporated is guided between the base plate 20 and the cover plate 21. The heat carrier whose heat is used for evaporating the medium to be evaporated can then be conducted on at least one of the sides or both sides facing away, which in this case is beneath the base plate 20 and above the cover plate 21, especially in a channel 17 as shown in
The conduction of the medium to be evaporated through the evaporator now occurs in such a way—with the heat supply being arranged accordingly—that the medium to be evaporated is present in the inflow channels of the various heat exchanger plates 1 (see
One example for a field of plates as can be used according to the present invention at the various points of the heat exchanger plate 1 is shown in
The largest number of plates 10 are arranged one after the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 in the width section in which the inlet 6 (or analogously the outlet of an inflow channel) is arranged. This leads according to
It is understood that other shapes such as an arc or parabolic shape would be possible for example. It is also not mandatorily necessary that the symmetrical embodiments above the longitudinal axis 2 as shown in
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2009 050 500.8 | Oct 2009 | DE | national |
This is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/EP2010/006467, entitled “HEAT EXCHANGER PLATE AND EVAPORATOR COMPRISING THE SAME”, filed Oct. 22, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2010/006467 | Oct 2010 | US |
| Child | 13453701 | US |
